New shirt number for Sakho shows importance to Liverpool

Mamadou Sakho had previously worn the number 17 shirt since arriving at Anfield in 2013.

New number: Mamadou Sakho

Mamadou Sakho will start the new 2016-2017 season with the number 3 on his back rather than his usual 17, Liverpool have revealed on the club's official website.

Sakho has worn number 17 ever since arriving at the club from Paris Saint-Germain in 2013, and the squad number change perhaps signals just how much he is valued by German manager Jurgen Klopp.

The French international defender has had a difficult summer after being suspended by UEFA for 30 days for taking what was described as a 'fat burner', detected after Liverpool's Europa League clash against Manchester United.

Suspended Sakho was cleared of any wrongdoing

Sakho was later cleared of wrong doing after UEFA's control, ethics and disciplinary body dropped their case against him.

However, the initial suspension forced the French international defender to miss Liverpool's Premier League run-in, resulting in him missing their Europa League final clash against Sevilla, as well as more poignantly ruling him out of contention for a spot in Didier Deschamps' French national team.

This was a bitter pill to swallow for Sakho as his country were the hosts of Euro 2016, and up to that point the Liverpool defender was a regular starter for his country.

France made it all the way to the final without Sakho

But despite Sakho's absence, Les Bleus made it all the way to the final, only to be defeated by Portugal.

Nevertheless, Sakho is expected to bounce back next season and he will do so with the club's full backing, and it appears he may be set for a crucial role in Klopp's first full season in charge, despite competition from Dejan Lovren and new signing Joel Matip.

The number 3 shirt, in traditional opinion, usually signifies a more established, regular name on the team sheet. And their can be doubting that after his improved form under the former Dortmund boss last season this theory certainly will apply to Sakho.

Mamadou Sakho celebrates with manager Juergen Klopp after scoring for Liverpool last season

Some Liverpool fans will be less than pleased at the number switch, if they have already bought a number Sakho emblazoned number 17 shirt. But, in order to appease those fans, Sakho has agreed to sign any Liverpool shirt that was bought before the number change.

Peter Rutzler

Peter is a Cambridge undergrad claiming to be studying for a History degree, despite spending a disproportionate amount of time watching and writing about football. He has written extensively for other sites and currently co-hosts a football radio show. A disillusioned Forest fan, he finds Leicester's remarkable rise deeply distressing and he sleeps next to a copy of 'I Believe in Miracles' to help numb the pain. He also owns his own football club, AFC Whitton. So he's a bit like Roman Abramovich, but swamped in student debt.